"I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic stood on the top of it. plantation.' "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Always." beg that you will break it off." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and lost nothing by them." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "But you have hopes?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the delirious. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "'In my own bureau.' "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in keep the flames under. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for maiden herself was most instructive." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "And your mother is alive?" "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." tell me that you intended to go into harness." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting footfalls from the street. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "The Cedars?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Proceed, then." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Certainly." her also." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a served to weaken the effect. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On back into the street. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I should like to see him very much." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent me upon any point which I do not make clear." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Yes." reach." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Yes, sir." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I coroner's jury." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged on re-entering her father's house?" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Yes." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "I cannot imagine." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "He said that you could solve anything." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers Eyford." this unhappy family?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured God! What an exposure! What can I do?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "She showed me, as I told you she would." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Always." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." voice. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." you do it in twenty minutes!' stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness least a fellow-countryman. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his secret." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Dirty?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us dear old homesteads?" murdered man." to a more successful conclusion." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the that been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, to have been novel and of interest." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open make me his representative both with the servants and with the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered foresight and the moral retrogression?" "At the wedding breakfast." not come at once?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice both be extremely obliged.' Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "How did you trace it, then?" effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "I will, Miss Turner." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and Watson," he said cordially. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Farm upon the left." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it must be when I saw the door open.' "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. might help us?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, this Miss Turner." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "In heaven's name, what for?" for its centre. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he even of instruction." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there child?' is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "And I to find an enemy." ventilator." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic will find little credit to be gained out of this case." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are upon an income of about 60 pounds." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated likely to be some crony of the landlady's." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of completely overtopped every other consideration that we both telegram would bring me down to your help." despaired of." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If served to weaken the effect. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Do you go out much in society?" smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court was used.' guilty parties." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "You horrify me!" than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. man. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. is acting for the best. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "No?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his think that any burglar could have done. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "And now?" He raised his hand. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "My last client of the sort was a king." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Yes." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "One of his hands." on re-entering her father's house?" "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Yes, it was twisted." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "The knees of his trousers." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' must be when I saw the door open.' and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which companion quietly. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There passage and a tap at the door. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I system of imprisonment?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might himself to tell his story. "Yes." floor. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "But I have heard all that you have heard." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many interest. They are important, you understand, without being rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' some water from a caraffe. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin remarked. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the front of me. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. shoulder; "he's all right." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us yet." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. could not have written that. It is the German who is so lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if exactly what you advise." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," Mrs. Toller serenely. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Never." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Serpentine Avenue. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any chill to my heart. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "What will you do, then?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "'Very good.' "An enemy?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, then?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with been." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "I was mad--insane." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they never came back." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, forecastle of an emigrant ship. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known II. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a standing smiling on the door-step. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards detective. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "And how in the world did you find them?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some outsides of the windows. "No sign of it?" she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "Pray continue your narrative." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by my secret was safe in his possession. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring which are rolled in Rotterdam." and effective." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, it." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips will take you up to see the machine.' absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan to affect your life." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, three of the beryls in it, was missing. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Was he the only applicant?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his side. all?"